The Miami Herald

Miami Herald, The (FL)

as provided by The McClatchy Company

March 22, 2009

NEW BUSINESS

TOSS UP SALADS: Diners chow down on healthy helpings
Vegans, vegetarians and lovers of raw food will all find something that's yummy -- and healthy -- on the menu at Toss Up Salads, a new restaurant on Nova Drive in Davie.

Author: BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL, Special to The Miami Herald

Edition: BW
Page: BW14

Article Text:

Teri Rios is finding there's gold in going green.

She's developing a recipe for success with her new restaurant, Toss Up Salads, in Davie.

Since opening in late February, plenty of people are developing a hearty appetite for her healthy fare that includes salads, wraps, soups and smoothies.

Business couldn't be better, she said. In less than a month, the staff has grown from three to nine employees.

"Knock on wood, I can't complain," she said. "I opened my doors without a sign and it's been, well, wow. I'm getting offers for franchising."

While Rios is a bit taken aback, she's not totally surprised by the reaction. She knew offering a place where folks could order all-natural cuisine prepared with organic fruits and vegetables, hormone-free chicken and homemade dressings would be hit.

"If you give good, quality food, people will come," she said.

Rios describes the customers who walk through the doors of her cheery 46-seat storefront at 7750 Nova Dr. as a mix of college students, of! fice workers, local professionals and families.

The interior of light green walls, flowers and fruit-filled decorative jars set a calming atmosphere where patrons can study a large menu and select signature dishes or design their own meals for take-out or dining at tables indoors and on the sidewalk.

"We cater to all types: vegans, vegetarians, raw-food lovers, gluten-free or any other special diet you can think of," Rios said.

Items include a global array of signature Indian, Tex-Mex, Asian and Mediterranean-style wraps and salads.

The design-your-own options seem endless, with different combinations of cheeses, nuts, fruits and veggies that can come with a choice of meats, fish, beans, hummus or tofu.

Everything's nestled in a bed of greens. The spinach, spring mix, iceberg and romaine are kept in separate, large steel cooling bins to ensure freshness, Rios said.

A long counter allows people to see the food being prepared. They can hang! out in a cozy seating area decked out with an electric firepl! ace, wic ker furnishings and a spread of glossy magazines.

The enterprise is a first for Rios, who is still active as a real estate broker with 20 years of experience. A Cuban American raised in Miami, she moved to Davie in 2005 with her daughter, Andrea, now 9.

As soon as she settled in West Broward, Rios looked for restaurants where she and her daughter could dine on fresh organic food. She eventually decided to open her own place, and that led to the creation of Toss Up Salads.

"I've always eaten healthy foods and I've kept a healthy household for my daughter," Rios said.

She couldn't be happier.

"I traded my designer wardrobe for khaki pants, shirt, sneakers and an apron," Rios said. "I love it."

Rios put together the menu, incorporating some of the lessons she learned while taking nutrition courses at Florida International University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business. She did research at food shows in New York and Chicago.
Breakfast items, priced from $1 to $4.99, include muffins, oatmeal topped with organic brown sugar, wraps stuffed with organic eggs and veggies, and an organic yogurt parfait with granola and fruit.

Wraps and salads start at $6.49. A Smoothie bar offers concoctions like Davie Diva (strawberries, blueberries and orange juice) and the Broward Babe (blueberries, pineapples and banana) starting at $4.99. The juice menu includes wheat grass and organic carrots or apples, with added "boosts" such as ginseng, aloe vera and acai, starting at $3.45.

There's also a children's menu with items at $3.99 each, designed by Rios' daughter.

Desserts ranging from New York cheesecake to molten lava cake, along with hot and cold beverages, are also on the menu.

"It's all good, healthy stuff," Rios said.

Copyright (c) 2009 The Miami Herald
Record Number: 200903220301KNRIDDERFLMIAMIH_salad